Review: A Secret to Die For

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Psychologist Grace Callahan has no idea that she has a secret–one worth killing for. But when she finds out one of her clients has been murdered, she quickly realizes that the computer security specialist wasn’t simply suffering from paranoia.

Detective Nate Quinn has just been cleared for active duty after a bombing killed eighteen people, including his partner, and left him dealing with PTSD. His first case back on the job involves the murder of Stephen Shaw, and his only lead turns out to be an old friend, Grace Callahan–and her life is in grave danger. Someone believes Shaw gave his psychologist information before he died. Information they are willing to kill for.

With her signature pulse-pounding suspense, Lisa Harris takes readers deep into the heart of fear in this race against the clock.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Secret to Die For by Lisa Harris is outstanding romantic suspense novel. I felt the immediate danger from the first page. The risks were already being calculated in my mind. Grace is a strong character. She fights back with determination and every strength she has. A killer is out there hunting her down for a piece of information. Yet Grace has no idea what that information is that’s worth killing her for…then, to add more spice and complications is the lead detective, Nate. He and Grace are old friends. This case, her, and his past add a mixture of risks. Overall, I loved the mystery and unforeseen events that only triggered my interest with every page.

Review: Delayed Justice

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

She had long given up the desire to be loved. Now she only needed to be heard.

Jaime Nichols went to law school to find the voice she never had as a child, and her determination to protect girls and women in the path of harm drives her in ways both spoken and unspoken. As Jaime, now a criminal defense attorney, prepares to press charges against someone who wronged her long ago, she must face not only her demons but also the unimaginable forces that protect the powerful man who tore her childhood apart.

Chandler Bolton, a retired veteran, is tasked with helping a young victim who must testify in court—and along with his therapy dog, Aslan, he’s up for the task. When he first meets Jaime, all brains, beauty, and brashness, he can’t help but be intrigued. As Chandler works to break through the wall Jaime has built around herself, the two of them discover that they may have more to offer one another than they ever could have guessed—and that together, they may be able to help this endangered child.

This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Delayed Justice by Cara Putman is a crime fiction novel that focuses on women’s voice in the world of justice. The heroine works to defend and protect these women. Yet this woman has a long road ahead of her. She is working on pursuing charges against someone in her past. Jamie will need all the courage and help to move forward. Then there’s Chandler and his dog who are up to the task of helping Jamie. Jamie brings  an unexpected outcome to Chandler’s world. He cannot help but to feel more towards this strong heroine.

Cara Putman crafted a beautiful engaging tale. I could not help but to feel sympathy and love for the protagonists. They had me rooting for them all the way. There were both emotional and physical boundaries that they had to work through…it made for an entertaining yet suspenseful story. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to all readers.

Review: White Hot

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

When she hears that her younger brother Danny has committed suicide, Sayre Lynch relents from her vow never to return to Destiny, the small Louisiana town in which she grew up. She plans to leave immediately after the funeral, but instead soon finds herself drawn into the web cast by Huff Hoyle, her controlling and tyrannical father, the man who owns the town’s sole industry, an iron foundry, and in effect runs the lives of everyone who lives there.

As she feared, Sayre learns that nothing has changed. Her father and older brother, Chris, are as devious as ever, and now they have a new partner-in-crime, a canny and disarming lawyer named Beck Merchant, who appears to be their equal in corruption.

Soon, Sayre is thrown in closer contact with Beck and becomes convinced that something more sinister is at play than her father’s usual need to dominate people and events. As she sets out to learn just what did happen to Danny, she comes to realize that there are many secrets in Destiny—secrets that hide decades of pain and anger, and that threaten at any moment to erupt and destroy not only her father and brother, but perhaps Sayre herself.

Underneath the rigid control that the Hoyles exert over the town, trouble is brewing. Old hatreds foster plans for revenge, past crimes resurface, and a maverick deputy sheriff determines that Danny Hoyle’s death was not suicide, but murder.

As tensions mount, threatening to ignite a powder keg of long-held hostility, Sayre finds herself inextricably drawn into a struggle with striking laborers, her unscrupulous father, and her own emotions over the love/hate relationship that is growing with Beck, a man apparently with his own agenda, and mysteries of his own.

As she has shown in the dozens of bestselling novels in which she has combined hard-edged suspense with intense emotion, Sandra Brown is a master storyteller, and in her new novel she is at her very best.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Bestselling writer, Sandra Brown caught my attention with this novel, White Hot. I love romantic suspense novels. The cast of characters gave this a realistic approach which I greatly appreciated. However, something was just not giving me that OMG, WOW, factor. There was enough mystery to peak my interest. I kept reading and loved the romance that occurred between the mysterious Beck and the heroine, Sayre.

The plot was all about a small-town surrounded by a demanding clan who talons dug deeper than one would think. Sayre’s father and brother made for great evil characters. A death once ruled as suicide is now, seen as a murder. So many suspects and secrets for discovery. The story overall, was entertaining. It just didn’t hit home. I needed something more. It had a dash of everything I enjoyed, romance, danger, and mystery. But it felt more like a dragged out drama at times.

 

Review: The Coloring Crook

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Includes A Front and Back Cover for You to Color!

Life is looking rosy for Florrie Fox, manager of the Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown, Washington D.C. She’s working on an adult coloring book of gardens, her romance with Sergeant Eric Jonquille has entered a new chapter, and the bookstore’s weekly coloring club is a source of friendship and entertainment. No member is more vibrant than Dolly Cavanaugh. Dolly likes to say she was blessed with beauty and cursed with lousy husbands, but at least she has a grown daughter and a stunning brownstone to show for it!

When Dolly’s love of garage sales results in her showing up at Color Me Read with a rare book in hand, Florrie is astounded. The Florist, the earliest known coloring book, was first published in 1760. An original copy would be worth a fortune–and someone else knows it. That same evening, Florrie finds Dolly dead on the floor of her apartment, a corner of a coloring book page clutched in her hand. As Florrie delves into Dolly’s past and her personal effects, she discovers a skeleton in the closet–literally–and a whole lot of shady suspects. One of them is an expert in the fine art of murder, but can Florrie draw the right conclusion?

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Coloring Crook by Krista Davis is a cozy mystery that I got lost within…the pages came to life. The characters are entertaining. A charming book club/bookstore crime fiction tale. I am a huge bookworm and this just satisfied my appetite. Action, mystery, murder, and mayhem all in one book. Some of the characters were not charming but the rest were funny. I could almost hear and see some the characters and scenes as if I were there witnessing them all in action.

Krista Davis brings another book murder mystery to read. In this one a woman obtains a rare edition of a book. One that is worth a lot of money. However, someone knows and is willing to kill for it. And then there’s the woman’s own dark past to sort though. It seems the main protagonist is going to have her hands full…overall, I recommend this well-written novel to all readers.

 

Review: Fashions Fade, Haunted Is Eternal

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

A photo shoot in a graveyard ends in a grave shooting . . .

Cookie Chanel–owner of the chic clothing store It’s Vintage Y’All in Sugar Creek, Georgia–has been hired to dress models for a fashion shoot. The spread will be featured in Fashion and Style magazine’s October issue–so the models are posing in a cemetery. As someone who can see and talk to ghosts, Cookie’s not spooked by the location. But she is surprised when a new ghost appears, decked out in 1920s couture. And she’s shocked when she hears a gunshot. Then a model runs toward her, saying the grumpy photographer has been edited out of the picture – for good. With help from her ghostly pals, Cookie must zoom in on the truth before she’s the next to strike a final pose . . .

Don’t Miss Cookie Chanel’s Shopping Tips

Praise for the Haunted Vintage Mysteries

“Rose Pressey’s books are fun!”–Janet Evanovich

“An appealing protagonist who is as sweet as a Southern accent.”– Library Journal 

“Chic and quirky heroine Cookie Chanel and a supporting cast of small-town Southern characters are sure to charm lovers of high fashion and murderous hi-jinks alike.”              —Jennie Bentley

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Fashions Fade, Haunted Is Eternal by Rose Pressey is an exciting ghost mystery. The characters are amusing to follow. I loved how the main protagonist can both see and talk to ghosts. Just when she’s used to having one as a friend, another one appears. And then, shortly after that, a photographer is murdered on the scene. The who done it theme pops up and it is up to Cookie to solve the murder. A fashionista with two helpful ghosts and a paramedic boyfriend, makes for an entertaining tale. I couldn’t help but to love the story and laugh along the way. For fans of Angie Fox and Pamela Kopfler this is a must read! Overall, I highly recommend it. Humor, action, and mystery all in one perfect bundle.

Review: Botched Murder

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Bowled over . . .

Sophie “Phee” Kimball is getting dragged into the drama again at her mom’s Arizona retirement community. A new board member wants to get rid of two golf courses and replace them with eco-friendly parks, and some of the residents are pretty teed off about it. On top of that, her mother’s book club friend Myrna is being pushed out of the bocce league. These seniors are serious about winning, and Myrna’s dragging them down. She’s so bad at bocce, in fact, that when a community mem.ber’s dead body is discovered while Myrna’s practicing for a tournament, she assumes it was one of her own errant balls that killed the woman.

But before Myrna can be tossed off the bocce court and into criminal court, the police find an arrow in the victim’s neck. It looks like this was no accident–and Phee and her investigator boyfriend Marshall will have to team up to bounce a killer into the slammer . . .

Praise for the Sophie Kimball Mysteries

“A thoroughly entertaining series debut, with enjoyable, yet realistic characters and enough plot twists–and dead ends–to appeal from beginning to end.”
—Booklist STARRED REVIEW on Booked 4 Murder

“An eclectic cast of entertaining characters that will keep you wondering whodunit!”
–Nicole Leiren, USA Today bestselling author of the Danger Cove Mysteries

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Botched Murder by J.C. Eaton brings readers to a hot community where the seniors care about what happens to their area. A member of their community takes up a position to have their golf courses changed into entertainment centers for younger people. An outrage breaks out. Many are angry over what the woman started. And it’s not too long before she is found dead. Another member feels that she was the reason the other woman died. But as the investigation continues that’s not the case at all.

J.C. Eaton created a story full of energy. A buzzing senior community that works together to save their area. A young woman and her boyfriend are dragged into the center of the case and issue at hand. Phee’s mother won’t let her daughter and boyfriend be in peace. She is always finding a way to get them to help her and her friends. I found plenty of humor on these pages as well as mystery. The characters felt real. I can just see Phee rolling her eyes and groaning everything she spots her mother and the other seniors. Overall, good story and a plot full of action.

Review: Murder by the Book

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Addie Greyborne loved working with rare books at the Boston Public Library—she even got to play detective, tracking down clues about mysterious old volumes. But she didn’t expect her sleuthing skills to come in so handy in a little seaside town . . .

Addie left some painful memories behind in the big city, including the unsolved murder of her fiancé and her father’s fatal car accident. After an unexpected inheritance from a great aunt, she’s moved to a small New England town founded by her ancestors back in colonial times—and living in spacious Greyborne Manor, on a hilltop overlooking the harbor. Best of all, her aunt also left her countless first editions and other treasures—providing an inventory to start her own store.

But there’s trouble from day one, and not just from the grumpy woman who runs the bakery next door. A car nearly runs Addie down. Someone steals a copy of Alice in Wonderland. Then, Addie’s friend Serena, who owns a nearby tea shop, is arrested—for killing another local merchant. The police seem pretty sure they’ve got the story in hand, but Addie’s not going to let them close the book on this case without a fight . .

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Murder by the Book is a fascinating crime cozy. I found the characters to be bold, funny, and clever. The criminals were cunning, but they have not seen anything like the heroine, Addie.

Addie has a big legacy to live up to. Her aunt left her an inheritance and another one that Addie didn’t find until she solved the case. I was left feeling fear and my curiosity peaked as the crimes kept increasing sometimes multiple ones in a day. Yet Addie, never backed away.

With the help of her new friend, Serena, and the police chief, Addie can find the answers. But until she did, it was spooky, deadly, and dangerous. Risks popped up as Addie drove further into the case. What none of them expected was for the one case to solve several old cases. The ending only left me with an appetite to read more by Lauren Elliott. Overall, I recommend this mystery murder to all readers. If you like Agatha Christie, Murder She Wrote, or Angie Fox, this is one you have to pick up!

 

Review: Downright Dead

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Holly Davis never imagined having a haunted bed and breakfast would be the secret to her success—or that a secret might leave her B&B DOA . . .

After the syndicated TV show, Inquiring Minds, airs footage of their resident ghost at Holly Grove, a converted antebellum plantation house, it seems like half the state of Louisiana wants to book a room. There’s only one small problem: the ghost of her not-so-dearly-departed ex Burl has . . . departed. For the sake of business, Holly’s willing to keep up the pretense of still being haunted. But after an outspoken debunker challenges the show’s credibility, the TV crew returns to Holly Grove to prove the ghost is real.

Following a disastrous séance, Holly is sure she’ll be exposed as a charlatan. Surprisingly, the debunker suddenly becomes a believer—after he’s pushed off the Widow’s Walk to his death and rises as a ghost. Now his inquiring mind wants to know—who murdered him? When he asks for Holly’s help, she can’t say no. But this time it’s her turn to watch her step, because if the killer gets spooked, the next ghost haunting the B&B may well be its owner . . .

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Downright Dead by Pamela Kopfler is one of the best paranormal cozy mysteries I have read. Its style is similar to Angie Fox’s paranormal 1920’s ghost solving mysteries. There’s plenty of humor, action, and suspects to explore. Just like one of my other favorite sleuthing heroines, the business owner in this novel, is believed to be a suspect. Her slipper was found where the dead man was pushed. But the police still haven’t decided if it is murder or a suicide yet. However, Holly sees the ghost of the newest victim. He was her worst critic and now, even in ghost form he doesn’t want to believe. But if he wants to stay away from hell, they have to work together to solve his murder. Plenty of interesting scenes and funny moments. Overall, I highly recommend this story and the rest of the series to readers everywhere.

 

 

 

 

Review: Every Day Above Ground by Glen Erik Hamilton

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

A favor for a dying ex-con turns into a violent battle against a mysterious enemy for Van Shaw in this emotionally powerful and gritty thriller from the award-winning author of Past Crimes and Hard Cold Winter

It sounds like a thief’s dream to Van Shaw: A terminally-ill ex-con tells him of an easy fortune in gold, abandoned and nearly forgotten after its original owner died in prison. For the dying man, the money is a legacy to ensure his pre-teen daughter’s future. For Van, the gold is cash he desperately needs to rebuild his destroyed family home.

The grandson of a career criminal who taught him all the tricks of his trade, Van suspects that nothing is ever that easy. Sure enough, the safe holding the fortune is a trap—set by a mysterious player armed with tremendous resources and a lifetime of hatred. Now, Shaw’s partner is in the clutches of the hunters, and the former Army Ranger may be their next prey. But when the ex-con’s innocent daughter is threatened too, Van’s own hard childhood means he can’t let her come to harm.

To discover who has them in the cross-hairs, Shaw must seek out the hunters’ real prey. His quest leads him from an underground bare-knuckle fighting ring, which may be fronting a darker purpose, to a massive pop-culture convention, where Van and his allies, Hollis and Corcoran, play a dangerous game with foes on every side. It also introduces Van to a brash and beautiful aspiring journalist who poses a whole different kind of personal risk.

For years, Van Shaw has tried to live every day above ground, on the right side of the law, even though crime is his gift . . . and in his blood. If he survives the coming storm, he’ll have to decide what he wants—and whether he can live as an outlaw without sacrificing his honor.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Every Day Above Ground by Glen Erik Hamilton is a great crime fiction novel. I instantly liked the main protagonist. Van Shaw is trying to live by the law but present circumstances are making that difficult. He could lose everything he’s trying to build. Then, out of nowhere, an offer too good to be true happens. From there, I was sucked into the troubled mess that Van got himself into…

Plenty of action, suspense, and intrigue are supplied. The plot was enjoyable. I found myself wondering how Van Shaw was going to make it. A criminal who turns into a good guy only to be propelled back into hell is exactly what this book contained. I was rooting for this criminal. Normally, I like the good guys and Van was sort of a good guy. He  wanted to do good. Overall, I recommend this crime/mystery to all readers.

Review: A Solitary Awakening

Synopsis:

Elijah Warren’s world has always been one haunted by murderers. His personal life is non-existent, though it’s not like he’s noticed. Work consumes him, and he’s buried himself in the FBI’s exhaustive demands. There’s no time for romance with killers to track–that is, until the beautiful and erudite Aurelia Blanc is thrown into his life, along with the so-called “Poetic Murderer.”

The Poetic Murderer makes murder an art form, each crime scene an exhibit. To catch him, Elijah and Aurelia must decipher cryptic poems and study imaginative death scenes. They traverse the United States, into the uncharted past of a killer most twisted, whose brutal violence evokes not only empathy for the victims, but an interest in the killer himself.

In time, what these detectives discover about both themselves and the Poetic Murderer will change their lives forever. First, they must understand him. Then, they must stop him, but will a romantic liaison make the killings more personal? If Elijah and Aurelia don’t stay focused, one could end up dead at the hand of a Poetic Murderer.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Solitary Awakening by Kevin Cady is a phenomenal read. The writer has drawn me deeply into his thriller. Suspenseful pages taking me behind the scenes as his characters race to find the murderer. I was thoroughly intrigued from beginning to end. 

Inside this debut novel, an FBI agent and a forensic specialist are working together to chase after the worst kind of criminals. A serial killer setting his victims death like artwork. There’s no art in gruesome deaths. Blood, deadly cat and mouse chase, and it will take everything from both characters to get their murder before one of them ends up dead…

Kevin Cady’s writing is superb. Immediately, I took a liking to both characters. The FBI agent, Elijah is unique. His backstory is sad and his present life is sad as well. He works hard to putting criminals away forever. Devotes his life to saving the world from murderers. No time for a social life. Until the forensic science specialist comes into his life. Shaking upside down and inside out…both have to come to terms with their feelings as well as the job at hand…catching the sadistic murderer before it’s too late. Romance can’t get in the way…

Overall, A Solitary Awakening by Kevin Cady is a mystery that I highly recommend to all. This is the first book to a great new series. One that I can’t wait to explore. Dark, engaging, and fast-paced. Readers will never want to miss this journey.

Review: Still Life

Synopsis:

Romantic Suspense’s Rising Star Continues to Win Fans

Blacklisted in the photography business over a controversial shot, Avery Tate answered an ad for a crime scene photographer. She expected to be laughed at, but crime scene analyst Parker Mitchell hired her outright–and changed her life. But six months ago, when her feelings for Parker became too strong, she left his employ to sort out her heart. 

Now, for the first time, Avery is facing the world that rejected her to attend the gallery opening of a photography exhibit and support her best friend, who modeled for the show. But the only image of her friend is a chilling photo of her posing as if dead–and the photographer insists he didn’t take the shot. Worse, her friend can’t be found. She immediately calls Parker for help. As Avery, Parker, and his friends in law enforcement dig into the mystery, they find themselves face-to-face with a relentless and deadly threat.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Still Life by Dani Pettrey was incredible. It has everything I expected, plus more. Murder, investigation, a crime chase, and romance. That and it was written in a way that combined Christian and suspense together. The blend was perfect. The main characters brought the story to life. Every page was intense. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Dani Pettrey captured a realistic couple dealing with life threatening issues. One was a photographer and the other a crime scene analyst. With their skills, a murderer will be caught. Then, there’s the romance building between them…made this book an explosive read. Enticing, highly engaging, and entertaining. Still Life is indeed just that…it describes the murder exactly. The way the corpse was posed to lure out those close to the victim…it was pure genius. Overall,I highly recommend this writer’s work to readers everywhere. First novel, I have read by her and already I am looking forward to reading more. 

Review: A Pawn for Malice

Synopsis:

Does an ex-cop ever lose his “nose” for investigating? Freshmen Senator, Bryon Gallagher, certainly hasn’t, when the love of his life, Jessica, is kidnapped by a mad man. No stone is left unturned, as he plays the role of senator by day and rogue detective by night, calling in favors and working his past snitches to the bone to find her. The only problem is, who does he focus his efforts on … her deranged, former father-in-law who lusts after her, a crazed felon hell-bent on revenging the execution of his brother put to death under the Senator’s newly passed Death Penalty Bill, or an unknown psycho, looking for his “moment of fame”? 

A Pawn for Malice is a thrilling, passionate, and suspenseful romance that entails self-discovery, survival and a love, that is so strong, it conquers the evil trappings of a criminal mind. 

Rating: 4.5 stars 

Review:

A Pawn for Malice by Cynthia Roberts is a thrilling dark tale. It caught my attention from the start. The main character, Jessica, has just gotten out of a bad situation…only to leave a place behind for a new start. Safety. But even then, she’s not safe. Her father-in-law threatens her before she left. She leaves for a job with man who lures her in like a magnet. Sexy, hot, and a powerful man…Bryan is. With his prior skills and knowledge I was a goner. As soon as Jessica is safe, her life once more plunges into danger. The intrigue and suspense builds into overdrive. Jessica is a strong female character. She doesn’t let anyone take advantage of her if she can help it. Her feelings towards Bryan, a senator, grows each time. His attraction towards seems to be just as strong. One man willing to use everything he has to get his woman back safe. 

Cynthia Roberts has created a stunning piece. A Pawn for Malice suits the story well. As the characters fit right into it. A chase after many frightening suspects and time racing against him.  Bryan has to find Jessica before it’s too late. Romance, suspense, and danger all rolled into one perfect read. The mystery of who kidnapped Jessica is a powerful lure. I had to know who and why. The writer has skills in creating a novel that entertains as well as sending chills down reader’s spines. Interesting characters both bad and good…plus, a crime fiction plot. I enjoyed reading this novel. I will definitely be looking for more of Cynthia Roberts novels in the future. 

Review: Indecent

Synopsis:

BEING A CRIMINAL ISN’T AS SIMPLE AS IT SEEMS!

Based on true events!

There was a time when six countries were united by one man named Tito. He defended the country from the tyranny of Hitler, thus establishing himself as a leader. His system of government was Socialism controlled by his Secret Policethe UDBA. Most of the population was thrilled to live such a life and they considered the agents their protectors, but one brilliant kid disagreed.

Zlatan, at the age of sixteen, decides to live outside the system, but that leads him to prison, to serve a sentence of five years. Inside he meets his teacher, Uncle, a former spy for Tito’s Gestapo, who arranges an early release for him, but it comes with a high price.
In front of the prison gates, two agents catch him and give him an ultimatumdo or die. Zlatan agrees to their criminal requests but not for ”King and Country” but for the freedom he craves. His actions lead him to discover something dark in the pit of his mind. He learns there are greater things to fear than the police and other criminals. He must answer the question . . .

IS HE ACTUALLY FREE?

Be the first one to find out in this debut novella by a young author, filled with suspense and psychological battles of an abnormally self-aware man.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Indecent by Ethan Brant is an extraordinary read. Fascinating from beginning to end. The pages whirl by and the action is great. I found myself deeply satisfied with Ethan Brant’s masterpiece. A suspenseful new thriller that I recommend to all. His writing style is lures readers into a dark world of fiction. Putting them on edge.   The danger is a real threat. One that the main character, Zlatan, has trouble escaping. Defiance only gets him deeper into the dark world he knows. His actions have him questioning  if he will ever be free. Indecent brings readers a fast-paced yet heart racing crime fiction. One that young adults and adults will enjoy. I can see this first short story as a crossover that will entertain readers everywhere. This first tale gave off a vibe like that of the Bourne series but on a much younger level. Detailed, stunning, and well-developed. I highly recommend this book worldwide. The characters, the scenes, and the plot are just out of this world. I loved reading it. Indecent is definitely a must read.

Review: Watching Edie

 

Synopsis:

For fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train: A dazzling work of psychological suspense that weaves together the past and present of two women’s twisted friendship.
 
Beautiful, creative, a little wild… Edie was the kind of girl who immediately caused a stir when she walked into your life. And she had dreams back then—but it didn’t take long for her to learn that things don’t always turn out the way you want them to.

Now, at thirty-three, Edie is working as a waitress, pregnant and alone. And when she becomes overwhelmed by the needs of her new baby and sinks into a bleak despair, she thinks that there’s no one to turn to…

But someone’s been watching Edie, waiting for the chance to prove once again what a perfect friend she can be. It’s no coincidence that Heather shows up on Edie’s doorstep, just when Edie needs her the most. So much has passed between them—so much envy, longing, and betrayal. And Edie’s about to learn a new lesson: those who have hurt us deeply—or who we have hurt—never let us go, not entirely…

Rating: 5 stars

Review: 

Watching Edie by Camilla Way is a  psychological thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seats. The story captivates readers in a way that keeps them reading all night long. I felt the compelling tug dragging me to the last page. The scenes are filled with darkness and a fright that leaves readers’ hearts pounding fast. Edie and Heather are two friends that will keep readers constantly on their toes. I wasn’t sure which I wanted to do more…to scream or to run. Both girls presented in this novel, suffered badly. Each one dealing with an equally heavy load. One with guilt the other with an obession of the past. The loss, grief, and destruction of these two girls now women is one that hooks readers. It’s  sad to follow their stories to the end knowing something big will happen that will forever change both of their lives. As a reader, I kept hoping for the best for both. Fear and complexity of the friends situations is one not to be taken lightly. So much is at stake…a secret kept between both girls. Will the suffering finally end?

Camilla Way has brilliantly crafted a masterpiece. For fans, of  Girl in the Dark, Gone Girl, and Her Darkest Nightmare, this is a must read. Once you open this tale, it’s hard to put down. I found myself woven and lost between each girls’  terrifying events from their past. A past that still seems to be haunting them to the point of destruction. The plot is steady-paced. It switches back and forth from the girls’ past to their present moments. I think the switching has helped me to understand each character more deeply. I got a bigger insight as to who they were and are as an individual. Watching Edie is superb. I love dark reads with a heavy dose of suspense. The ending is one readers don’t want to miss. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to all.

 

Review: Fifth Column

 

Synopsis:

The neat row of small, late-Victorian terraced houses was punctuated by a gaping space: homes reduced to rubble in the night raid. Among the debris the body of a young, red-headed woman is found. But she has no connection to the houses or the street, nor can her identity be established. Nor was it the bomb that killed her. When the post-mortem reveals death by strangling, D.I. Jago is called on to investigate. He quickly establishes that the body is that of Mary Watkins, a seemingly respectable employee of a local engineering company. But the company is missing important chemicals, and few seem to really care about the death of Mary – not even her family. Was the young woman all she appeared to be? As Jago digs deeper he starts to uncover a trail of deception, betrayal, and romantic entanglements…

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Mike Hollow’s novel, Fifth Column, is an intriguing mystery with tons of suspense. The story wraps readers into a murder mystery. This highly entertaining yet suspenseful read reminds me of two detective shows of mine that I love. It reminds me of Miss Fisher’s Mysteries and Detective Murdoch. The tale takes readers deep into London during WWII. a frightening and chaotic time for a crime to happen. Here, there will be bombing and then a murder case that detective Jago must solve. Mike Hollow’s writing is engaging. I found myself piqued about the characters and cases at hand. I wondered who and why and how. Fifth Column reads like old crime fiction novels that instantly become ones favorite and never go out of style. The danger, suspense, and the suspects were fun to follow along. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this detective mystery. Detective Jago has officially been added to my favorite detectives. There are a lot of themes combined within this read. A bit of romance, secrets, lies and much more.  Overall, I highly recommend this well-developed tale to readers everywhere.

 

 

Review: Stolen Lives

 

Synopsis:

Three fourteen-year-old boys, Brett McGovern, Stephen Bailey and Michael Erickson are inextricably linked by the abduction and murder. Brett, who was abducted from Indianapolis, fears that his captors will decide to kill him. More recently, two boys from a Milwaukee, Wisconsin suburb, Stephen, and Michael, have been abducted, and the detectives on the case know that if they are not found within 24 hours, any chance of finding them is remote and they will be gone forever. A fourth boy, George Tokay, a Navajo, holds a key piece to this puzzle and doesn’t realize it.

Pete Kelliher and his team of FBI agents from the Crimes Against Children Unit have been tracking the murders of children for the past two years. He believes that if they can find these two boys, they might find the answers to the questions that have been eluding them. He and his team race to find Stephen and Michael before they disappear forever. There isn’t much to go on, and each time he gets a break, potential witnesses are found dead. As Pete and his team investigate, the stories of these boys are like loose threads on a sweater: pull the wrong one and it unravels completely. Slowly, Pete comes to the realization that one or more members of his own team might be behind it all. There are injury and death, some of which is Pete’s fault and that causes him to question his effectiveness and his future.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Stolen Lives by Joseph Lewis is a remarkable piece of fiction. It takes things that have happened and puts it into a new twist, inside this fictional world. The terror and events are similar to ones we find in our world, today. Real stories inspired this talented writer to bring about the issues into a work of fiction. Readers will be trapped within the walls of every scene once they opened up the book. The plot is full of intrigue, danger, and suspense. Crime fiction at its best.

Here inside this thriller, Stolen Lives, brings to life real problems in a way that will have readers on the edge of their seats. Dark, sad, and definitely an eye opener. Joseph Lewis brings to readers’ attention that boys too are abducted and sexually abused just like girls are. The world is never a safe place, but when those who should be protecting may be the cause of danger…everything spirals out of control. The story has a way that wrapped itself completely around me. It sucked me in from page one and wouldn’t release me until the last page. There’s plenty of action and mystery that hooked me right away. The ending was great…and left me wondering what’s to happen next. Joseph Lewis’s writing was superb. His characters drew me into the plotline. The dialogue was easy to read and follow along. Overall, I highly recommend this masterpiece to readers everywhere.

 

Review: Bullet in the Blue Sky

 

Synopsis:

In the chaotic aftermath of a massive earthquake that leveled much of the Los Angeles region, an LAPD deputy chief sends an elite team of detectives on a rescue mission. They are ordered to set aside all law enforcement duties, to ignore the destruction and to focus on one task: Find LAPD Detective Gavin Shaw, who disappeared just before the earthquake.

Kevin “Schmitty” Schmidt of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department joins five others on the rescue team. With rioting, looting, attacks and homicides rampant in the streets, the six cops have to defend themselves while chasing down leads on the whereabouts of Shaw. The mission takes them through the dizzying war zone and the more they encounter, the more they wonder why they are searching for one man in these extreme circumstances. Why is this man so important to the deputy chief, and why now?

Schmitty discovers that others with high connections are also after Shaw. The questions pile even higher when they learn of a shadowy history between Shaw and the deputy chief. A history with deadly consequences for the team as they uncover a threat that elevates the mission to a race against time.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Bullet in the Blue Sky by Bill Larkin is a heart-pounding crime story. There’s always some danger, where crime exists. However, in this exciting read, Bill Larkin brings readers a dark secret that might just be the most deadly moment of six cops’ lives. They are sent in by a deputy chief to go after a missing detective. What they find will…will much more than what they were led to believe. Politics is a field that none like to mess with…can something that seems to be mother nature at work, be something caused, from men? Then there’s more danger ahead…if men caused what is thought to be nature then what if their actions have even worse consequences…the race to find out the answers are hidden inside this masterfully woven novel. Time is ticking…and hesitating could cause more harm than good.  I enjoyed the thrill ride as the adventure unfolded. Bill Larkin’s talent is one that readers don’t want to miss. Bullet in the Blue Sky is a crime fiction that I highly recommend to all.

 

Review: Walleye Junction

 

Synopsis:

When outspoken radio talk show host Philip Long is kidnapped and murdered, Detective Macy Greeley leaves her young son in the care of her mother and heads up to remote Walleye Junction, Montana to take charge of the investigation. It is initially believed that Long’s murder is the result of a controversial radio show he’s done on the rise of far-right militias in the state. Within days, the two kidnappers are found dead following a massive heroin overdose, and the authorities are hopeful the investigation is finished. But there are too many discrepancies for Macy to settle for obvious answers. The kidnapper’s bodies have been moved, their son is on the run and a series of anonymous emails point investigators toward the murky world of prescription painkiller abuse. Macy soon finds herself immersed in small town intrigues as she races to find who’s really responsible for Philip Long’s murder.

Meanwhile, Philip Long’s daughter Emma is dealing with her own problems. It’s been twelve years since she left Walleye Junction after her best friend died from a drug overdose. Emma finds that little in Walleye Junction has changed in her absence. She is also becoming increasingly uneasy as the familiar surroundings stir up memories that are best forgotten.

With Walleye Junction, a taut, propulsive mystery, Karin Salvalaggio will once again grip readers from the opening page to the stunning conclusion.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Walleye Junction by Karin Salvalaggio has everything that readers look forward to within a thrilling mystery. This is Karin’s third novel and it automatically plunges readers deep into the dark plot that has past events tied to the danger at hand. Murder, suspicion, and danger compel readers forward in the exciting tale. Fast-paced and well-written, Walleye Junction was the first novel I have read by the talented writer, Karin Salvalaggio.

Walleye Junction is a small town, where four murders take place. A controversial radio talk show man is found dead. Then two kidnappers are also found dead. A woman dies from being overdosed. What starts off to be something related to the talk show turns out to be much more deadly and more serious than authorities would like. Kidnapping, murder, and drugs. There is enough action to keep readers interested from the beginning to the end. Karin Salvalaggio creates an emotional journey that is easy to connect with on every level. Her characters’ stories within this one are quite impressive. Somehow they all connect and make for an explosive yet haunting read.  As I read Walleye Junction, I was constantly on the edge of my chair wondering what happens next. The words created a shadow…where readers could feel and experience everything first hand yet not know what to expect. The dialogue is just as great as the non-dialogue parts. The characters’ personalities and dramas pop off the pages. The ending…left me hanging. I can’t wait to see what happens next in another masterpiece by Karin Salvalaggio. Overall, I highly recommend this crime fiction to readers everywhere.

 

 

Review: Hard Case

 

Synopsis:

In 1956 New York City, a year after Alice White’s first investigation, she becomes entangled in her Bronx neighbor’s troubles. A United States customs inspector at the Port of New York, he has fallen into the grasp of the vicious dockworkers’ boss.
As Alice attempts to free him, the power struggle created by the post-World War II wave of Italian immigration into the predominantly Irish run West Side imperils both. Can Alice save him? If she fails both may die.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review:

Marc Hirsch has done it again. His second novel, Hard Case, once again features Alice White. Alice White is a tough as nails protagonist, that will capture readers’ attention quickly. Her work ethic and attitude make this story enjoyable as well as the characters she helps out and meets along the way. A modern woman who goes all out investigating different cases. Alice wins respect from others easily. Then there’s Jim, her lover. I love how he repsects Alice for being who she is and respects what she does and still loves her. As for the investigation, readers will have to snatch a copy for details. Just know that the interesting characters and perfect plot makes for one spectacular read. Marc Hirsch definitely knows how to lure his readers in and leaves them wondering what new adventure Alice will take on next. The mystery and suspense is enough to keep readers turning the pages. Overall, I highly recommend reading Hard Case to readers everywhere.

Mystery Writing/ Cozy Mystery/ Crime Fiction?

Your character loves the apartment s/he’s renting.  It’s the first place in his/her life where s/he’s ever felt happy and at home.  But the building is about to go for sale, and all the tenants will be forced to leave.  Unable to face the prospect of moving out, your character makes up his/her mind to buy the building.  S/he has no idea how s/he’s going to come up with that kind of money, but there has to be a way…